Energy modulation of a cyclotron beam

Abstract

In various embodiments, a radiation therapy system can include a cyclotron that outputs a charged particle beam. In addition, the radiation therapy system can include an apparatus to receive the charged particle beam from the cyclotron. The apparatus decelerates or further accelerates the charged particle beam to produce a reduced or increased energy charged particle beam. The apparatus can include a radio frequency structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A radiation therapy system comprising:
 a cyclotron that outputs a charged particle beam; 
 a first apparatus adapted to receive and decelerate said charged particle beam to produce a reduced energy charged particle beam, said first apparatus comprising a radio frequency structure; 
 a second apparatus adapted to receive and accelerate said charged particle beam to produce an increased energy charged particle beam, said second apparatus comprising a radio frequency structure; and 
 a set of switching dipoles adapted to receive and direct said reduced energy charged particle beam and said increased energy charged particle beam. 
 
     
     
       2. The radiation therapy system of  claim 1 , wherein said increased energy charged particle beam is adapted to deliver at least 4 grays (Gy) to a target in less than a second. 
     
     
       3. The radiation therapy system of  claim 1 , wherein said second apparatus further comprises a plurality of sequential radio frequency structures. 
     
     
       4. The radiation therapy system of  claim 1 , wherein said reduced energy charged particle beam is adapted to deliver at least 4 grays (Gy) to a target in less than a second. 
     
     
       5. The radiation therapy system of  claim 1 , wherein said charged particle beam comprises protons. 
     
     
       6. The radiation therapy system of  claim 1 , wherein said charged particle beam comprises carbon ions. 
     
     
       7. The radiation therapy system of  claim 1 , wherein said charged particle beam comprises helium nuclei. 
     
     
       8. The radiation therapy system of  claim 1 , wherein said first apparatus further comprises a plurality of sequential radio frequency structures. 
     
     
       9. A method comprising:
 generating a charged particle beam with a cyclotron; 
 directing said charged particle beam to a first apparatus or a second apparatus; 
 if said first apparatus receives said charged particle beam, decelerating said charged particle beam with said first apparatus to produce a reduced energy charged particle beam, said first apparatus comprising a radio frequency structure; 
 if said second apparatus receives said charged particle beam, accelerating said charged particle beam with said second apparatus to produce an increased energy charged particle beam, said second apparatus comprising a radio frequency structure; and 
 directing said reduced energy charged particle beam or said increased energy charged particle beam with a set of switching dipoles. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein said increased energy charged particle beam is adapted to deliver at least 20 grays (Gy) to a target in a second. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , wherein said reduced energy charged particle beam is adapted to deliver at least 40 grays (Gy) to a target in a second. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , wherein said set of switching dipoles are coupled with said first and second apparatuses. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , wherein said charged particle beam comprises protons. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9 , wherein said charged particle beam comprises carbon ions. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 9 , wherein said charged particle beam comprises helium nuclei. 
     
     
       16. A radiation therapy system comprising:
 an isochronous cyclotron that outputs a substantially fixed energy charged particle beam; 
 a decelerating apparatus adapted to receive and decelerate said substantially fixed energy charged particle beam to produce a reduced energy charged particle beam, said decelerating apparatus comprising a radio frequency structure; 
 an accelerating apparatus adapted to receive and accelerate said substantially fixed energy charged particle beam to produce an increased energy charged particle beam, said accelerating apparatus comprising a radio frequency structure; and 
 a set of switching dipoles adapted to receive and direct said reduced energy charged particle beam and said increased energy charged particle beam to a nozzle. 
 
     
     
       17. The radiation therapy system of  claim 16 , wherein said reduced energy charged particle beam or said increased energy charged particle beam is adapted to deliver greater than 40 grays (Gy) per second to a target. 
     
     
       18. The radiation therapy system of  claim 16 , wherein said substantially fixed energy charged particle beam comprises protons. 
     
     
       19. The radiation therapy system of  claim 16 , wherein said substantially fixed energy charged particle beam comprises carbon ions. 
     
     
       20. The radiation therapy system of  claim 16 , wherein said substantially fixed energy charged particle beam comprises alpha particles or helium nuclei.